Traction therapy apparatus



Feb. 2, 1965 R. w. slLTAMAKl TRACTION THERAPY APPARATUS Filed July 3.1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l yall] Feb. 2, 1965 R. w. slLTAMAKl 3,168,094

TRACTION THERAPY APPARATUS Filed July 5. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2,1965 R. w. slLTAMAKl 3,168,094

TRACTION THERAPY APPARATUS Filed July 5. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 UnitedStates Patent O MME-'4 TRACTIUN THERAPY APPARATUS Robert W. Siltamalri,Burbank, Calif., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Tru-Eze Mfg. Co.,inc., Burbank, Salif., a corporation of California Filed hilf] 3, 1961,Ser. No. 121,769 i7 iaims. (Ci. 12S-75) This invention relates totherapeutic apparatus and more particularly to a means for impartingintermittent traction to a patient; such apparatus being more commonlyemployed -for imparting traction to the spinal columns of patients butbeing useful for any therapy in which intermittent traction isindicated.

In the treatment of injuries or disease conditions for which the use oftraction is desirable, the most beneficial amount of tractive force isoften greater than the level of tolerance of the patient for thecontinued application of such tractive force. A patient may, however, besubjected to momentarily applied tractive forces which are much greaterthan those which may be applied continuously and therefore, by the useof intermittent traction, the amount of tractive force which is `mostbeneficial to the condition being treated can be achieved without unduediscomfort to the patient.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an organizedapparatus for applying intermittent traction to a patient in which notonly the length of elapsed time for a total treatment can bepredetermined but also the factors of the frequency of the applicationof tractive efforts, the time periods of maximum traction lapplicationand the amount `of tractive effort or pull are independently adjustableby an attendant either before or during a treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traction therapyapparatus `of the `above `character in which the apparatus automaticallyadapts itself to the position of the patient relative to the apparatusin the line of traction effort.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an intermittenttraction applying apparatus in which the attainment of a predeterminedmaximum pull or tractive effort is the factor lwhich initiates a cycleof operation comprising an adjustably predetermined holding or dwell atthe maximum tractive effort condition, a release of the tension, asecond dwell separately adjustable as to the time interval thereof atthe end of the tension releasing movement, and another application orpull of tension on the portion of the body of the patient subjected totreatment until the attainment of the said predetermined maximum pull ortraction initiates the next cycle of operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an intermittenttraction producing apparatus of the above character -which issusceptible of use on a patient in either a seated position or in aprone or supine position.

Still another object of the inven-tion is to provide an intermittenttraction producing apparatus which is o-f small size and readilytransportable and which may be readily installed for use and as readilydismounted after use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an intermittenttraction therapy 4apparatus which is simple and sturdy in construction,which is quickly adapted for use with succeeding patients and which iscapable of long 4and continued use Awithout the need for servicing.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such additionalobjects and advantages las may subsequently appear, the inventionresides in the parts and in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts described, by way of example, in the followingspecification of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

iddli Patented Feb. 2, 1965 reference being had to the accompanying`dra-wings which form a part of said specification and in whichdrawings:

FIG. l is a front View of ya traction therapy apparatus embodying thepresent invention; the view being capable of being construed as appliedto the head of a patient and being either mounted `on a wall fortreatment of a seated patient or on a table or the like for treatment ofa patient lying on a bed or table,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View as viewed from the right hand side ofFIGA,

FIG. 3 can be construed either as a top plan -view or a rear elevationalview depending whether the apparatus is considered as being mounted on avertical surface or a horizontal surface,

FIGS. 4 and 5 show in reduced scale the means for detachably mountingthe apparatus on a surface (horizontal or vertical) for use,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale sectional view taken on line 6 6 of FIG. l,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged scale sectional View taken on the line 7 7 of FIG.2,

FIG. S is a rear view of the timer panel of the apparatus,

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of FIG. 6,

lFIG. l0 is a fragmentary View generally similar to FIG. 6 but showingthe relation of the cycle initiating components at the instant ofachieving a predetermined maximum amount of traction, and during thehold period,

FIG. ll is an enlarged scale sectional View taken on the line 11.-11 ofFIG. 2,

|FIGS. l2 and 13 are fragmentary, sectional views taken on the llines12-12 and 13a-A13, respectively, of FIG. 6,

FlG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line f4-14 of FIG.l, and

FIG. l5 is a circuit diagram of the electrical system of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the inventioncomprises a supporting frame structure 1 including a frame casting Z ofmodified U-shape configuration disposed with the open end thereofextending laterally toward the base of the device; said casting having avertical plate 3 attached to and covering one side thereof :and saidplate including a depending portion 4 to which a driving motor means 5is mounted and to which further reference will hereinafter be made. Theopposite side of the casting 2 extends in a plane parallel to the .iirstmentioned side and carries a side plate 6 and a removable, access plate7. i'I'he `frame structure further includes a base member S here shown`as a heavy sheet metal pan of rectangular configuration and includingside flanges 9 and 9' and top and bottom llanges it) and 1li and theupper arm 11 of the frame casting 2 is secured to the top flange lIii atthe midlength thereof by a bolt d2. The vertical dimension of said basemember is considerably greater than the vertical dimension of the framestructure 41 `and the llower arm 13 -of the :casting 2 terminates in anupwardly extending foot portion 14 and a screw 15 extends through amounting member 16 t0 which detailed reference will later be made, thenthrough the bottom 117 of the base member 8 and threadedly engages said'foot portion d4 to secure the frame structure and base member togetherwith the frame structure 1 extending at right angles from the plane ofthe base member bottom 17.

A sheet metal cover 18 has the skirt portion thereof secured to theouter faces of the base member flanges 9, 9', 10 and liti by screws 19;said cover member projecting forwardly a lesser distance than said framestructure and having a slot Ztl formed in the upper portion of the frontface 21 thereof and in the top side face 22 thereof through which theframe structure 1 projects forwardly beyond said front face 21.Preferably, the upper portion 23 of said front face 21 of the cover isoutwardly, convexly curved and the portion 24 thereof below the framestructure 1 extends diagonally downwardly and rearwardly and is providedwith a rectangular opening 25 over which an instrument panel 26 issecured by screws 27.

The motor means is secured by bolts 28, 28 to one side of the dependingportion 4 of the plate 3 and is spaced therefrom by bosses 29, 29 on themotor means. The said motor means is reversible and comprises, ineffect, two separate motors having the armatures thereof mounted on andxed to the horizontal motor shaft 30; said motors including a rst motor31 operable only to effect rotation of the motor shaft in a direction toeffect traction on a patient by devices actuated thereby which willpresently be described, and a second motor 32 operable only to etfectrotation of the motor shaft 38 in the opposite direction. This oppositerotation requires less effort and, accordingly the motor 32 is lesspowerful than the motor 31 and the armature associated therewith. Alsocomprising a part of the motor means 5 is a speed reduction unit 33comprising a gear housing into which one end of the motor shaft St)extends and which contains suitable gearing between the motor shaft 3)and the horizontal Ydriven shaft 34- which projects therefrom and thencethrough the plate portion 4. At the side of said plate portion 4opposite the motor means 5, the shaft 34 carries a small sprocket 35which is connected by a sprocket chain 36 to a larger sprocket 37 fixedby a key 37 to a shaft 38; said shaft being journaled in bushings 39, 39carried by the plates 3 and 6 as best shown in FIG. 7. Mounted on theshaft 38 between the plates 3 and 6 is a windlass pulley 40 xed to theshaft by a key 40' and a collar 41 iixed to the shaft 38 exteriorly ofthe plate 6 cooperates with the sprocket 37 to prevent endwise movementof the shaft 38.

The windlass pulley 40 is provided with a cylindrical body portion 42bordered by flanges 43, 43 and the said tbody portion 42 is providedwith a hole 44 extending tangentially therethrough in which one end of aflexible member such as a cable 45 is clamped by a screw 46 extendingparallel to and laterally spaced from the shaft 38 (see FIG. 7). Thecable 45 is thence wrapped sever-a1 turns about the body portion 42 in acounterclockwise direction `as viewed in FIG. 6 and thence extends fromthe top of the windlass pulley substantially horizontally forward over arst grooved idler sheave 47 mounted for free rotation on a bolt 48 xedto a lever larm 49 which lever arm is pivotally mounted on a sleeve 5t)clamped to the inner face of the plate 3 by a bolt 51 and disposedadjacent the lower portion of said plate; said sleeve having an enlargedflange portion 52 holding the arm 49 in laterally spaced relation to theinner face of the plate 3. On the side of the lever arm 49 opposite theplate 3, the sleeve 50 carries a second grooved idler sheave 53 overwhich the cable 45.i s next trained and from which it thence extendsdownwardly through an opening 54 in the forward or outer end of thebottom run 13 of the frame member 1; the distal end of said cable beingattachable to suitable devices connecting it to the patient as, forexample, the head strap means H. Preferably, the bolt 51 carries a guardmember 55 extending over the portion of the sheave over which the cable45 passes to prevent the cable from getting out of the groove in thesheave. As the motor means 5 is actuated to rotate the windlass pulley40 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 10, the cable willbe wound thereon 'to produce traction on the patient to which the cableis effect is discontinued.

The device may be mounted on a wall W or the like for vtreatment of aseated patient and it is in relation to that most common mode of usethat the terms upper,

lower, forward, horizontal, vertical, etc. have been dwell periodoccurs.

employed. The device may, however, be mounted on a table or the like fortreatment of a patient lying on a bed or table. The illustrated mountingmeans 16 comprises la metal ange having downwardly converging edges 56,56 spaced outwardly from the rear or mounting surface of the device andadapted to detachably engage complementary slots 56', 56' in a socketmember 57 fixed to the wall or other surface on which the device is tobe mounted. Preferably, the lower or rear surface of base member 8 isprovided with a resilient pad 58 to cushion the device against themounting surface.

Control means The means by which the device applies successive tractionefforts of adjustable predetermined magnitude, duration, and frequencyland of predetermined extents of treatment comprises anelectro-mechanical system operated by alternating current which systemwill now be described. The end of the lever arm 49 remote from thepivotal mounting thereof is provided with a depending cylindrical boss59 which is engaged by one end of the compression spring 69 which thusbears against the shoulder formed by said boss. The other end of thespring surrounds Ia corresponding boss 61 on the inner surface of therun 13 of the frame member 1 and bears against the said inner face ofsaid member; the effort of said spring being to urge the lever arm in acounterclockwise direction about its pivotal mounting as viewed in FIGS.6 and 10. As the windlass pulley winds in the cable 45 creating tensionon the cable from the resistance offered by the patient, the reaction ofthe cable is to tend to straighten the bight thereof extending betweenthe pulley 40 and the sheave 53 by causing the sheave 47 and lever larm49 to move in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 10 againstthe resistance offered by the spring 60. As will be presently explained,it is the pivotal movement of the lever arm 49 in response to thechanging biases imposed thereon by the tension on the cable 45 and theyielding resistance of the spring 60 that eects the cycle of operationof the device.

Before going into a detailed description of the electrical system, .thecycle of operation will be briefly described.

Assuming that the cable 45 is attached to a patient and the machineplaced in operation the motor 31 of the motor means 5 is automaticallyenergized to wind up the cable 45 and when the traction eected by thecable reaches a predetermined maximum value, the motor means 5 isstopped and held against reverse rotation for a predetermined time atthat maximum traction value. At the end of that dwell time, the bias Iisremoved from the motor 31 and the motor means 32 is energized to reversethe rotation of the windlass pulley and relieve the tension on the cable45. When the cable reaches slack condition, the motor 32 is stopped anda second At the end off that second dwell period, the motor 31 isre-energized to start a new cycle. All of the foregoing steps take placein sequence automatically and the treatment continues for the time seton the master time switch of the device. When this time expires, thedevice continues to operate through control means to be described untilthe cycle which may have been in progress at t-he instant o-f expirationof time by the master switch has been completed.

The control means includes an adjustable sto-p means for determining themaximum amount of traction to be exerted on an individual patient ateach cycle of operation of the device; said means including a shaft 62journaled in and extending between the plates 3 and 7; said shaft beingdisposed below the lever arm 49. The shaft extends beyond the outersurfaces of the plates 3 and 7 and at each end thereof carries one eachof a pair of 'hand knobs 63, 63 each of which has a radial indexed 'line64 which registers along a semicircular scale or dial 65 to indicate theextent or magnitude of maximum traction effort to be exerted. Fixed tothe shaft 62 and exslashes tending between the plates 3 and 7 is aneccentric member 62' to wh-ich further reference will presently be made.

The total elapsed time for a treatment is determined by a master timeswitch means 66 including a single throw switch 66 operated by clockwork to be closed when the clock work is started at the beginning of aperiod and to open when the said period reaches zero; said switch eingmounted on the panel E6 and being adjusted by a handle 6'7 moved withreference to a dial 68 on the exterior of the panel 26.

The length of the dwell which occurs at the time of maximum tractioneffort, hereinafter called the holding dwell, is determined by anautomatically re-set timing device 69 which operates a double throwswitch means 69 forming a part thereof and which is held normally in oneof its two set positions. The timing device 69 is mounted on the innerface of the panel Z6 and has an operating hand knob 70 exteriorly ofAthe panel provided with index means having reference to an associateddial 71.

The elapsed time for the dwell at the end of traction release,hereinafter called the rest dwell, is determined by a timing device '72which is identical to the device 69 and which likewise includes acorresponding double throw switch means '72' which is normally held inone of its two positions. The :timing device '72 is also mounted on theinner face of the panel 26 and is provided with an Operating hand knob'73 which similarly has means for indexing reference to a dial 7d. Allof the foregoing timing devices are standard components, wherefore,urther description is deemed unnecessary.

Mounted on and movable with the lever arm i9 is a double throw snapswitch 75 which moves from one to the other of its two positions inresponse to movement of the lever arm 49. The distal end of the leverarm 49 also carries a normally closed single throw switch '76 whoseprimary function is to insure that upon the end of a treatment periodthe device will continue to operate until the end of the cycle duringwhich the treatment time determined by the master timer 66 expired.

FIG. l5 shows the relative positions o the electrical system componentsprior to beginning treatment of a patient. Assuming that the device isboth connected to a patient and to a source of alternating current andthat adjustment has been made yfor the desired magnitude of traction aswell as the length of the respective dwell periods, the master timerknob 67 is turned to set the length of time for the treatment. Thiscloses the switch 66' allowing power to iiow through the lead '755,switch 66', and lead '79 to the common terminal of the switch '75; saidswitch being in the full line position and thus causing current to flowthrough the lead Sti to the timing means and switch actuator of the resttimer '72 causing it to go through its previously predetermined dwellperiod and then move the switch 72' to the dotted line position; thecircuit being completed through the lead @l to the power lead 82. Thisdotted line position of the switch '72' completes the power circuit foroperating the motor 3l which circuit extends `from the switch 66'through lead 83 to the switch 69', the lead 84 to the switch 'i2' andthence through leads 85 and 86 to and from the motor means 31 to thepower lead 82. The circuit remains until the switch 75 is moved to itsother position.

As the cable 45 is wound on the pulley d@ and achieves tension by theresistance offered by the body of the patient, the lever arm 49 will bemoved about its pivotal mounting against the resistance of the spring6i?. The switch 75 has a iirst operating plunger projecting from oneside of the switch case which is engaged by the arm 88 or" a lever 89pivotally mounted in a bracket 9i) on the switch case; said switch inits full line position normally causing the plunger to protrude to theextent shown in FlG. 6 and the lever 89 having a stop member 91engageable with the switch case to limit the extent of movement of thelever 89 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 6 and l0.The switch '75 extends at right angles to the axes of the shaft 62 andeccentric 62' and the movement of the lever arm di? in response to cabletension brings the lever 89 against the eccentric 62'; the distance thelever arm may thus be required to move to effect this contact with theeccentric with consequent greater or lesser compression of the spring d@being dependent on the adjusted position of the eccentric 62.

As the tension on the cabie 45 causes the lever arm 49 to engage theeccentric 62', as shown in FIG. l0, the switch '75 snaps to its dottedline position, whereupon, current from the lead 79 then tlows throughthe lead 93 to the timing means and switch actuator of the holding timer69 causing it to go through its previously predetermined dwell periodand then move the switch 69' to its dotted line position; the circuitbeing completed through leads 9d and S?. to the power lead 32. This alsocompletes the power circuit for the motor 32 through lead 95, and themotor 32 reverses the direction of rotation of the windlass pulley 49until the slackening of the cable 4S allows the spring 6% to move thelever arm 49 to a position in which the plunger 96 of the switch 7 S isactuated by engagement with an actuating resilient leaf element 97carried by the arm d@ with an adjustable stop means comprising aneccentric 98 carried by a screw 99 for rotative adjustment on the innerface of the plate 3, said engagement with the plunger 96 causing theswitch 75 to snap back to its full line position. This starts the nextcycle of operation of the device with the institution of the dwell ofthe rest timer 72 as previously described and the cycles of operationrepeat themselves until the time set by the master timer 66 has expired.

It is desirable in some instances, that the motor means be held againstrotation when operating current is not supplied to either motorcomponent and that the motor be stopped instantly upon cessation ofcurrent supply to either motor component thereof. For this purpose, arectiying means Mit) comprising a diode 101 and a resistor 162 may beinterposed between leads T03 and 1M extending, respectively, to the lead84 and to the side of the switch 72' which is connected to the lead SSwhen that switch is in its full line position. Additionally, therectifying means may include a capacitor N5 connected 'to the lead 82 bya lead 10d. It will be noted that at all times when the switch 66' isclosed and the switches 69' and '72' are in their full line positions,only one phase of the alternating current is being imposed on thealternating current motor 3l thus holding it against rotation.

There remains to be described the function of the switch 76. This switchis normally closed at all times except when the lever arm 49 is at itsextreme upper position as shown in FIG. 6. At this time the distal endof the resilient leaf 97 contacts an operating lever 167 pivotallymounted at 16S on the case of switch 76; said lever operating a plungerN9 of the switch to open the switch contacts. At all other times, thisswitch is closed and therefore, if the switch 66' should be opened whilea cycle of operation is in progress, current will nevertheless flowbetween the leads 78 and 79 through the closed switch 76 until the leverarm reaches the slack cable position shown in FIG. 6 with resultantopening of this switch. The switch 76 thus insures that regardless ofwhen elapsed time determined by the timer 6e expires, the device willnevertheless complete the cycle then in progress.

if, for any reason, Athe switch means for stopping the motor 32 shouldfail to operate and the continued operation of that motor would firstcompletely unwind the cable and then start to wind it up in the reversedirection, the cable would be drawn down over the distal end of theresilient ieaf 97 causing it to move the switch from its dotted line tofull line position and to restart the cycle of operation. This insuresthat the cycle will be repeated under all circumstances.

While in the foregoing specification, there has been disclosed apresently preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention is not tobe deemed to be limited to the exact and precise details of constructionthus shown by way of example and it will be understood that theinvention includes as well, all such changes and modifications in theparts, .and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts asshall come Within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device foi subjecting a patient to repeated applications oftraction, a windlass means, a flexible member having one end thereofattached to said windlass means and having its other end provided withmeans for attachment to the portion of the body of the patient to besubjected to traction, reversible motor means for actuating saidwindlass means in alternate directions with resultant winding in andunwinding of said flexible member and consequent application and reliefof traction on the patient, and control means for reversing said motorVmeans operable automatically when winding in of said flexible membershall have effected a traction pull of predetermined magnitude on apatient, to reverse said motor means with resultant unwinding of saidflexible member; said control means including a time delay switch andmeans operated thereby operative to stop said motor means upon reachingsaid predetermined magnitude of traction for a predetermined timeinterval before said motor means is reversed to relieve said traction.

2. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim l whichfurther includes a second time delay switch means operable to institutetraction producing winding in of said flexible member and consequentapplication of traction to a patient at the end of a predeter- `minedtime interval after unwinding of said flexible member has reduced themagnitude of traction on said flexible member to zero.

3. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim 2 whichfurther includes an elapsed time switch which is adjustable to determinethe total elapsed time for a treatment and which further includesdevices which effect stoppage of said device at a point in its cycle ofoperation which is immediately prior to the beginning of exertion of atraction effort.

4. In a device for subjecting a patient to repeated applications oftraction, a windlass means, a flexible member having one end thereofattached to said windlass means and having its other end provided withmeans for attachment to the portion of the body of the patient to besubjected to traction, reversible motor means for actuating saidwindlass means in alternate directions with resultant Winding in andunwinding of said flexible member and consequent application and reliefof traction on the patient, and control means for reversing said motormeans operable automatically when Winding in of said flexible membershall have effected a traction pull of predetermined magnitude on apatient, to reverse said motor means with resultant unwinding of saidflexible member; said control means including a time delay switch andmeans operated thereby operative successively to stop said motor meansupon reaching said predetermined magnitude, to hold said motor meansagainst reverse action incident to traction pull on said flexible memberand finally to reverse the direction of rotation of said motor means torelieve said traction on said flexible member.

5. In a device for subjecting a patient to repeated applications oftraction, a windlass means, a flexible member having one end thereofattached to said windlass means and having its other end provided withmeans for attachment to the portion of the body of the patient to besubjected to traction, reversible motor means for actuating saidwindlass means in alternate directions with resultant winding in andunwinding of said flexible member and consequent application and reliefof traction on the patient, and control means for said reversible motormeans including an electric switch and spring bias operating meansengaging said switch including devices engaging said flexible member andtending to yieldingly laterally displace said flexible member whereby inresponse to imposition of a traction pull on said flexible member of apredetermined magnitude, said flexible member engaging devices will bemoved against the spring bias thereon with resultant actuation of saidswitch to effect reversal of said motor means and consequent unwindingof said windlass means.

6. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim 5 whichincludes manually adjustable means for determining the magnitude oftraction effort imposed on said flexible member required to effectreversal of said motor means by actuation of said spring biased switchoperating means.

7. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim 5 in whichsaid control means for said motor means includes devices actuated by thespring bias on said switch operating means when the tension on saidflexible member decreases to Zero to change the direction of rotation ofsaid motor means to institute winding up of said flexible member by saidwindlass means.

8. In a device for subjecting a patient to repeated applications oftraction, a windlass means, a flexible member having one end thereofattached to said windlass means and having its other end'provided withmeans for attachment to the portion of the body of the patient to besubjected to traction, reversible motor means for actuating saidwindlass means in alternate directions with resultant winding in andunwinding of said flexible member and consequent application and reliefof traction on the patient, and control means for reversing said motormeans operable automatically when winding in of said flexible membershall have effected a traction pull of predetermined magnitude on apatient, to reverse said motor means with resultant unwinding of saidflexible member; said control means further including an elapsed timeswitch which is adjustable to determine the total time for a treatmentand additionally includes devices operable to effect stoppage of saidtraction applying device ata point in its cycle of operations which isimmediately prior to the beginning of a traction effort thereby.

9. In a device for subjecting a patient to repeated applications oftraction, a windlass means, a flexible member having one end thereofattached to said windlass means and having its other end provided withmeans for attachment to the portion of the body of the patient to besubjected to traction, reversible motor means for actuating saidwindlass means in alternate directions with resultant winding in andunwinding of said flexible member and consequent application and reliefof traction on the patient, and control means for reversing said motormeans operable automatically when winding in of said flexible membershall have effected a traction pull of predetermined magnitude on apatient, to reverse said motor means with resultant unwinding of saidflexible member;

said control means further including a time delay switch means operableto institute winding in of said flexible Vmember and consequentapplication of traction to a patient at the end of :a predetermined timeinterval after the previous unwinding of said flexible member hasreduced the magnitude of traction to zero.

10. In a therapeutic device for subjecting a patient to repeatedapplications of traction, a base, a rigid arm structure projecting fromone surface of said base, a windlass pulley, mounting means for saidwindlass pulley, and reversible motor means for actuating said windlasspulley disposed at the end 'of said arm which is adjacent to said base,a guide means at the distal end of said arm, a flexible member havingone end thereof fixed to said windlass pulley and thence being trainedover said guide means to its other end, means at said other end of saidflexible member for attachment thereof to the portion of the body of apatient to be treated, control devices for said motor 9 means operableto cause said motormeans to alternately rotate said windlass means inopposite directions with consequent Winding and unwinding of saidflexible member thereon, and devices responsive to the amount of tensionlon said flexible member incident to a traction effort thereby effectiveupon attainment of a predetermined maximum magnitude of tension toreverse the direction of rotation of said motor means.

11. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim in whichsaid control devices include a pulley engaging and laterally displacingsaid flexible member intermediate said windlass pulley and said guidemeans, a spring biased mounting for said pulley yieldingly tending toeffect lateral displacement of the flexible member at the point ofengagement by said pulley, and switch means actuated by movement of saidpulley mounting means incident to movement thereof deriving from tensionon said flexible member sufficient to overcome said spring bias andoperative to cause reversal of said motor means and release of tensionon said flexible member.

12. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim 10 inwhich said control means includes a time delay switch and means operatedthereby operative to stop said motor means upon reaching saidpredetermined magnitude of tension on said flexible member for apredetermined time interval before reversing said motor means to relievesaid tension on said flexible member.

13. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim 10 whichincludes means associated with said pulley mounting means for adjustablypredetermining the magnitude of traction eflort required to actuate saidcontrol means to effect reversal of said motor means and said pulley.

14. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim 10 inwhich said control means for said motor means includes means vforreversing the direction of rotation of said motor means to institutewinding up of said flexible member by said windlass pulley after thetension on said flexible member has been reduced to zero.

15. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim 10 inwhich said control means includes an elapsed time switch which isadjustable to predetermine the total time for a treatment and whichfurther includes devices operable automatically to eflect stoppage ofsaid device at a point in its cycle of operation which is substantiallyat the time the tension on said flexible member has been reduced tozero.

16. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim 10 inwhich said control means further includes a time delay switch meansoperable to institute traction producing Winding in of said flexiblemember and consequent application of traction to a patient at apredetermined time interval after unwinding of said flexible member hasreduced the magnitude of traction to zero.

17. A therapeutic traction applying device as claimed in claim 1l inwhich said control means further includes a time delay switch meansoperable to institute traction producing Winding in of said flexiblemember and consequent application of traction to a patient at the end ofa predetermined time interval after unwinding of said flexible memberhas reduced the magnitude of traction to zero.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,275,953 3/42Frisch 254--172 2,468,092 4/49 Mahnke 254-173 2,474,267 6/ 49 Mahnke254-173 2,512,017 6/50 Hayes 254-173 2,773,499 12/56 Zur Nieden 12S-752,811,965 11/57 Richards 128-75 2,861,565 11/58 LaPierre 128-712,910,061 10/59 Rabjohn 128-70 2,958,510 11/60 Finch 254--173 RICHARD A.GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner.

5. IN A DEVICE FOR SUBJECTING A PATIENT TO REPEATED APPLICATIONS OFTRACTION, A WINDLASS MEANS, A FLEXIBLE MEMBER HAVING ONE THEREOFATTACHED TO SAID WINDLASS MEANS AND HAVING ITS OTHER END PROVIDED WITHMEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE PORTION OF THE BODY OF THE PATIENT TO BESUBJECTED TO TRACTION, REVERSIBLE MOTOR MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAIDWINDLASS MEANS IN ALTERNATE DIRECTIONS WITH RESULTANT WINDING IN ANDUNWINDING OF SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER AND CONSEQUENT APPLICATION AND RELIEFOF TRACTION ON THE PATIENT, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID REVERSIBLE MOTORMEANS INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC SWITCH AND SPRING BIAS OPERATING MEANSENGAGING SAID SWITCH INCLUDING DEVICES ENGAGING SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER ANDTENDING TO YIELDINGLY LATERALLY DISPLACE SAID MEMBER WHEREBY IN RESPONSETO IMPOSITION OF A TRACTION PULL ON SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER OF APREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER ENGAGING DEVICES WILL BEMOVED AGAINST THE SPRING BIAS THEREON WITH RESULANT ACTUATION OF SAIDSWITCH TO EFFECT REVERSAL OF SAID MOTOR MEANS AND CONQUENT UNWINDING OFSAID WINDLASS MEANS.